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So since I am a newbie here I figured I would ask those with more experience than me for thoughts and opinions. I looked at this car this morning and noted the frame was very clean. Floor pans looked great from below. Exhaust was junk / rotted. Missing spare tire and cover. Rear leaf looked original, weather strips need replaced. Door gaps were good pain presented ok but has chips and small issues so really could use paint. Engine trans and steering all were wet from underneath. A-Pillar by windshield looked bubbled - see attached pics. The body mount however didn’t look terrible but was some rust spreading a gap on the inside edge as shown.
looking for thoughts and opinions if this looks safe or sketchy. Asking price is high in my thoughts but could be wrong. ($9k) What’s it worth? Drivers side
What do you mean that the engine/trans/steering looked wet, you mean from oil or coolant or water ? Some underneath and top-side engine pics would help.
I would be worried about the A-pillar rust, that will cost to fix.
I don't think that car is worth $9k more like $5-7k would be more reasonable.
See the PROBLEM is the horse shoes, they're upside down and all the luck has run out! (Horse shoes should be a U!) This is a metaphor for this car!
okay.
1. Price $1500 too high
2. Bubbling and general yucky-ness of the tops of the lower a pillars are FACTORY... a billion threads have been written about this.
3. I'm not knocked out with the body mount rust pictures....but the car is not about to fall apart.
4. MORE PICKS
at $7500 you might get some more years of fun and frolic out of this...
You're describing about $3000 worth of work to get this puppy up to snuff.
What's going on with the console over the transmission area. It is raised and can see under it. Carpeting there looks funky also.
I would not say that is a problem. The tunnel side panels are fiberboard and they warp over time. The alignment of the shifter plate cover with the center gauge cluster bezel looks correct. The rear of the shifter plate where it meets the armrest does look slightly off, but that can be for any number of reasons.
Overall, I would agree that $9k is too high in that condition because it is an automatic.
To me the condition looks about right for a northern car. Body mounts look decent and looks like a solid driver.
that said price is high for a driver 80.
auto trans and COLOR kill it for me.
I have seen better for less money in MI. Now if the person is willing to deal it might be okay. I remember your looking for a 80-82 so that does linmit the options...
Yes the side carpet was falling down by the console The cookie looking thing by the radio is different however. I’m hopefully going to look at another 80 this weekend. Was supposed to have been completely redone several years ago and has not seen water since and kept in climate controlled storage. Driven about 5000 miles since full rebuild. BUT. It’s a lot more money too.
Goodyear hasn't made Eagle ST tires for at least 15 years. Don't drive it very far or very fast on those tires. Frost Beige (59L) is not a sought after color. A proper Corvette re-paint can run 7 to 10,000. If you are interested, get it up on a lift and closely check out the frame for rust, especially the kickups in front of the rear wheels. While its in the air, find out where it is leaking. Fluid leaks are normal, old Corvettes like to mark their territory! Prices seem to be edging up, but $9,000 is too much for this car. Spending more money for a really clean car is cheaper than buying a project, unless you want something to work on.
Offer 7 and if accepted take it to a tire store and put new shoes on it, fix all the little stuff then drive it like you stole it. Personally I would never spend the money to restore it. With the auto and the color it probably will never be worth much.
I always liked what Chevy did with the '80-82 body style. Other than the chrome bumpers C3, which I have one, the '80-'82 is my second favorite style on a C3.
Good luck.
Goodyear hasn't made Eagle ST tires for at least 15 years. Don't drive it very far or very fast on those tires. Frost Beige (59L) is not a sought after color. A proper Corvette re-paint can run 7 to 10,000. If you are interested, get it up on a lift and closely check out the frame for rust, especially the kickups in front of the rear wheels. While its in the air, find out where it is leaking. Fluid leaks are normal, old Corvettes like to mark their territory! Prices seem to be edging up, but $9,000 is too much for this car. Spending more money for a really clean car is cheaper than buying a project, unless you want something to work on.
That’s one thing, the frame was solid. I have now found a fully restored 80 that was done around 2010+2011. Driven about 5000 miles since done. Stored in heated building and has not seen water since redone. Looks like new. Little more than wanted to spend but too nice to pass up.
Originally Posted by theandies
Offer 7 and if accepted take it to a tire store and put new shoes on it, fix all the little stuff then drive it like you stole it. Personally I would never spend the money to restore it. With the auto and the color it probably will never be worth much.
I always liked what Chevy did with the '80-82 body style. Other than the chrome bumpers C3, which I have one, the '80-'82 is my second favorite style on a C3.
Good luck.
My “dream” car would be a fully restored 80-82 with an LS Swap / Auto OD in a Candy Brandywine something I could cruise Route 66 in and not worry
I have now found a fully restored 80 that was done around 2010+2011. Driven about 5000 miles since done. Stored in heated building and has not seen water since redone. Looks like new. Little more than wanted to spend but too nice to pass up.
When you get that restored 80 home, post lots of photos!
Not terrible but not good, especially with so many out there in that price range in better shape. It can be presentable and driveable with about $3k in work but won't necessarily be worth more. It would make a fun project though.
Yes the side carpet was falling down by the console The cookie looking thing by the radio is different however. I’m hopefully going to look at another 80 this weekend. Was supposed to have been completely redone several years ago and has not seen water since and kept in climate controlled storage. Driven about 5000 miles since full rebuild. BUT. It’s a lot more money too.
Sounds good, would love to see some pics. I found a 79 survivor with 16,000 miles and paid a little over $16K if that helps you with value.
I recently shopped for a later model C3 or a C4 as a “modest refurbish” project, not a “restoration.”
My budget was about 5-7k initial. After a few months, I gave up on finding a 80’s C3 needing less than a total frame-off in that price range.
These things a fetching good money. (I ended up going with a C4.)
To me, this white 80 looks worthy of a further look as a driver, but I agree with the others...too high....I am at 8 max from what I see already, assuming mechanically she is good and the rust we see is not any worse. There are potential issues with A/C, heater core, u-joints, on and on.. When I say 8 max, everything else needing attention would lower my offer.
If you are looking for a daily driver, while cosmetically similar, there are big differences from 80-82 mechanically in engine and transmission. You need to understand them before you buy!!!!
Thoughts Please. Looking at 1980
